Madison County TN Obituaries

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JAMES FRANKLIN LANIER died at the home of his parents, Mr. & Mrs. H. Porter Lanier, near Ararat church, eight miles west of Jackson, last Sunday night of typhoid fever, aged 33 years, 10 months and 2 days. Deceased was one of Madison county's purest and best young men. He became a Christian at the early age of 12 years and joined Ararat church, and did his part as faithfully as most young men. He loved and honored his pastor and was always generous in his support, courteous and polite to everybody. His friends and admirers were legion. In sickness, distress, or whenever help was needed, Frank Lanier was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was ill four weeks and until a week before his death, his recovery was hopeful but suddenly he grew worse, and the bust medical aid, skilled, loving, tender, nursing and the prayers and tears of saints, availed nothing. The good Lord had need of him in a higher, purer and sweeter sphere, and took him. He was conscious to within a few minutes of his death and gave assurance again and again to his pastor, family and all that he was dying trusting in Jesus. His death was as gentle and sweet as the sleeping of an infant and was a triumph of the Christian faith. He died in the midst of an unbroken family and a host of friends — all kneeling in tears, with the soft hand of his bethrothed tenderly and lovingly pressing his noble and manly brow. His remains were laid to rest Monday afternoon at Ararat cemetery. Rev. Ross Moore conducting the funeral services. The family have the sympathy of the entire community In this their great affliction.
The Jackson Daily from "Terry in Dallas" at Find-a-Grave


HARRIS ABRAHAM LAW known to many as H. A. Law was a wonderful father and wonderful grandfather. He was married to Viva Law they have one daughter Bettye Sue Law Jones and one son Jack B.Law. They have one granddaughter S. Lynn Jones Westover, grandsons Christopher T.Jones, Brian law, Walter Law and ten great-grandchildren. Before he retired he owned H. A. Law Refrigeration and Air conditioner Repair Service. He loved his family and he worked hard to provide for him. He also loved his grandchildren and he had the privlege to spend a short time with several of his great-grandchildren before he went home. H. A. grew up in East Tennessee that he where he met his wife and they married and had their two children. H. A. later moved his family to Jackson, Tennessee where he lived until his death. I know all this because he was my grandfather, I loved him dearly and I am so thankful I had 19 years with him.
Provided by Wilda Bratcher (Find-A-Grave)


VIVA IMOGENE LAW was married to H. A. Law she was was a wonderful mother and wonderful grandmother. She and her husband H. A. have one daughter Bettye Sue Law Jones and one son Jack B.Law. They have one granddaughter S. Lynn Jones Westover, grandsons Christopher T.Jones, Brian law, Walter Law and ten great-grandchildren. She worked with her husband in his business H. A. Law Refrigeration and Air conditioner Repair Service. She loved her grandchildren and she had the privlege to spend quite some time with several of his great-grandchildren before she went home. Viva grew up in East Tennessee that is where she met her husband, they married and had their two children. She and H. A. later moved their family to Jackson, Tennessee where she lived until two years before her death. I know all this because she was my grandmother, I loved her dearly and I am so thankful I had many years with her.
Provided by Wilda Bratcher (Find-A-Grave)


JOHN A. LAWS - Services for John A. Laws, brother of Henry Laws of Lexington were conducted Sunday afternoon at Browns Church by the Rev. H. D. Weaver, the Rev. W.W> Henley and teh Rev. Clinton Buck. Mr. Laws, born and reared in Madison County was the son of John and Kittoria Laws. He was a Methodist and member of Woodmen of the World. He died Saturday morning at his home. He leaves his wife; two sons, John H. and Harry V. Laws, both of Browns Church; two sisters, Mrs. Will Thompson of Browns Church; and Mrs. W.B. Woolfolk of Claybrook. Burial was in Browns Church.
Lexington Progress 6/20/1952


SHERRY ANN (BRYANT) LEE went to Northside High School in Jackson Tennesse,went to Jackson State Community College after high school.Married High School SweetHeart Joe Lee in 1975.Had two Children Daniel Allen Lee on July 2 1983 and Christopher Joe Lee on November 7 1986.With a family history of Cancer and had to have a breat masetomey in 1986.Cancer was believed to have gone down until it came back in 1988 and got better in early 1989 with alot of chemothreapy that weakened Sherry even more brought it back worse and it spread to her liver.She Died at Baptist East in Memphis Tennessee at around 2:15 pm on September 13 1989.Sherry will be rememembered for her ability to be liked by everyone,her good heart and softspoken nature.
Provided by Daniel Lee (Find-A-Grave)


WENDELL HOLMES LEE - Funeral services for Wendell Holmes Lee, Jr., age 59 will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, October 8th at the graveside in Highland Memorial Gardens with Rev. Joe Dee Kelley officiating. Mr. Lee passed away Friday at Hardin County Medical Center in Savannah, TN. He was born on August 20, 1948 the son of the late Wendell and Daisy Mae Lee. He was an employee of Gerdau Ameristeel Company in Jackson . Survivors include his wife, Loretta Ann, a daughter, Jennifer Carpenter (Gary) of Jackson, one son, Travis Dewayne (Cathy) of Sherwood, AR, one sister Barbara Ann Lee of Ackerman, MS, two brothers, Stan Lee of Lodi CA., and Wayne Lee of Jackson. Seven Grandchildren; Kimberly Renee Carpenter, Ashley Michelle Carpenter, Amber Nicole Carpenter, and Angela Marie Carpenter. Nicki O'Hara; Dewayne Thomas Lee, and Paul O'Hara one Great Granddaughter Shannon O'Hara in Scotland Other than his parents, Mr. Lee was preceded in death by a half-brother Steve Bullock.
Provided by Aida Edmiston (Find-A-Grave)


EVELYN REBECKAH (WATSON) FERRELL LEMONS of Jackson passed away Tuesday June 3, 2008 at her home. Becky was born June 20, 1937 in Dekalb Co. (Smithville) TN and after moving to Jackson was co-owner of Ferrell's One Stop, and of J. and B. Auto Transport in Jackson. She is survived by her husband of 18 years, James Lemons of Jackson, 2 sons; Michael Ferrell and wife Kim of Huron TN, Mark Ferrell and wife Terri ofJackson. Two daughters: Teresa Fullerton Milam and husband Joe of Lexington TN and Elisa Ferrell of Beech Bluff. One stepdaugther Paula Jolly of Cordova; Six grandchildren: James and Matthew Fullerton, Jacob Ferrell, Brian Young, Ross Ferrell and Stephen Jolly. Six brothers Paul Watson, Aaron, David and Morris along with Frank of Morrison TN and Johnny of Greenville. One sister Francis Billings. Along with a special sister-in-law Glenda Holland and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her parents Frank and Eula Watson. Brothers, John Lee, James, Charles, George, Lillard and J.C. Watson along with sisters Virgle Adcock, Anna Stinnett and Doris Watson as well as her grandson Robert Scott Ferrell. Interment in Ridgecrest Cemetery.
Lexington Progress 4 June 2008


MRS. SCOTT RYAN LESTER - Services for Mrs. Scott Ryan Lester were Friday at Kingdom Hall with Ralph Smith officiating. Burial was in Highland Memorial Cemetery in Jackson with Pafford Funeral Home in charge. Mrs. Lester, who was 83, died Thursday at her home. She was a retired factory worker. She leaves two sons, A. D. Lester, Ft. Worth , Texas and W. E. Lester, Jackson ; five daughters, Mrs. Alena Lester, Mrs. Dewey McClanahan, both of Lexington , Mrs. Lorane Berice, Montgomery , Ala , Mrs. L. V. Bloach, Zephyr Hills , Fla. , Mrs. W. D. Hix, Ft. Worth ; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Contributed by Amanda Jowers - The Lexington Progress, January 15, 1975


HATTIE C. LEWIS - of 143 Crescent Avenue died Thursday evening at 6:40 in the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital after an extended illness. She was 82 years of age. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock from the Chapel of Smith Funeral Home with Rev. O. T. Arnett officiating. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery. Mrs. Lewis was born March 7, 1880 in Abbeville, Mississippi, daughter of the late Fredrick A. Crosley and Jane O'Leary Crosley where Mr. Crosley was connected with the Illinois Central Railroad. Mrs. Lewis had resided in Jackson for the past forty years and was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Extension Department of the Church and was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was a past Matron of Abbeville, Miss., Chapter. Her husband, Tom Lewis Sr., foreman for W. H. Coleman & Company, preceded her in death thirty years ago. Survivors include a son, Tom Lewis, Assistant Fire Chief for the Jackson Fire Department; four daughters, Mrs. George H. Dean of Crockett Mills, Tenn., Mrs. John A. Eliason of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Mrs. Georgia Peoples of Toone, Tenn., and Mrs. Homer Broussard of Alexandria, La.; a brother, George R. Crosley of El Dorado, Ark., and four grandchildren, Laverne Beaubouel of Alexandria, La., Willie Kate Dean of Savannah, Ga., Rosa Lou Dean of Crockett Mills, Tenn. and George Dean Jr. of Crockett Mills. Her body will be at Smith Funeral Home until the funeral hour. Pallbearers to serve will be W. C. Lewis, Robert Steadman, William A. Hudson, Arnold Rampley, James Randolph and T. H. Rice.
The Jackson Sun 1 June 1962


IRENE LEWIS - Services for Mrs. Irene Lewis were Tuesday at Reeds Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Burroughs officiating. Burial was in Providence Cem. in Madison Co. Mrs. Lewis, 80, died Monday at Decatur Hsp. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. She leaves a son, Robert Lynn Lewis of Lexington and two sisters, Mrs. Effie Moore and Mrs. Jessie Alma Britt both of Lexington.
Lexington Progress 3/17/1993


CORA LEE (O'DELL) LORD , 69, of Crossville, passed away Feb. 16, 2007. Funeral services were conducted Feb. 18 from the chapel of Bilbrey Funeral Home, with Bro. Glen Davenport officiating. Interment was in Baker's Chapel Cemetery. Mrs. Lord was born May 25, 1937, in Crossville, the daughter of Lewis and Laura (Hayley) O'Dell. She was retired from Crossville Senior House and was a member of Cumberland Cove Baptist Church.Survivors include her sisters, Anna Crosby of Nashville, Mary Nevius of Springfield, MO, Peggy Barnwell of Crab Orchard and Juanita Womac of Charleston, TN; and brothers, Elmo O'Dell of Cleveland, TN and David Henry of Crossville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Marlena Lord; brother, James O'Dell; and stepfather, Clinton Henry. Pallbearers were Bill O'Dell, Ed O'Dell, Bob O'Dell, Jim O'Dell, Lewy O'Dell and Jerry Swafford.


GARVIN L. LUTHER - Funeral services for Garvin Lee "Butch" Luther, age 87, formerly of Bemis Community, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at George A. Smith and Sons South Chapel. Pastor Eddie Cupples and Pastor James Keeton will officiate in the service. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens. He passed away Sunday, July 22, 2007 at the Hardin County Medical Center in Savannah, TN. Garvin was born February 16, 1920 in Benton County, Tennessee, the son of William Frank and Maude Greer Luther who preceded him in death. He moved to the Bemis Community as a teenager and began work in the Bemis Cotton Mill. In 1948, Garvin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He worked in the mill until the summer of 1968 when his disease made him incapable of continuing to work. On October 1, 1938, Garvin was united in marriage to Mytrice Evelyn Richards in Corinth, MS. They lived in Bemis, Jackson and most recently in Savannah, TN. She preceded him in death in February, 2006. He was a member of Bemis Pentecostal Church at the time he entered the nursing home in Savannah. Garvin was recognized by the church upon his completion of over 20 years teaching a young men's Sunday School class. Several of the young men are now actively involved in full time ministry or actively involved in local churches. Men who attended the class taught by "Brother Garvin" are asked to sit together in a reserved section for the service. Mr. Luther is survivied by one son, Rev. William G. (Bill) Luther and wife, Ann of Adamsville; two grandsons, David Christopher Luther and wife, Merita of Adamsville and Cary Nathaniel Luther and wife, Amanda of Jackson; and six great grandchildren, Brittany, Savannah, Alexandria, Colten, William and Caroline. He is also survivied by a younger sister, Maurine Weir; five nephews; two nieces and a host of friends.
The Jackson Sun of July 24, 2007